Otay Ranch junior aims for shot-put record

Last track season, Otay Ranch High junior Jonathan Bajet won the Mesa League shot-put title with a personal best of 50 feet, 9 inches, nearly a foot farther than his previous best.

John Gibbins

Last track season, Otay Ranch High junior Jonathan Bajet won the Mesa League shot-put title with a personal best of 50 feet, 9 inches, nearly a foot farther than his previous best.

Last track season, Otay Ranch High junior Jonathan Bajet won the Mesa League shot-put title with a personal best of 50 feet, 9 inches, nearly a foot farther than his previous best. (John Gibbins)

Scott Akanewich, Special to the Union-Tribune

He also throws the discus.

John Gibbins

He also throws the discus.

He also throws the discus. (John Gibbins)

When Otay Ranch High junior Jonathan Bajet steps into the throwing ring, he slowly walks to the front, gazes out over the field at the farthest measurement line and takes a deep breath.

Seconds later, the 6-foot-1, 275-pound Bajet hurls a 12-pound metal ball in an explosion of speed, strength and fury. With Bajet’s long hair flying as he spins, the shot leaves his powerful right hand like a cannonball.

Last season, Bajet won the Mesa League shot-put title with a personal best of 50 feet, 9 inches, nearly a foot farther than his previous best.

“I knew it was the league finals and I needed a good throw,” said Bajet, who also plays on the offensive and defensive lines for the Mustangs football team.

Football was the reason Bajet began throwing three years ago.

“I started this my freshman year to stay in shape for football,” said Bajet, who also throws the discus. “A lot of the lifts we do in the weight room for this sport help for football. For throwing, you’re conditioning for short, quick bursts of strength.”

Dan Helton, who has been throwing coach for the Mustangs track and field team since the school opened in 2004, said Bajet will top the list of athletes he has coached by the time he graduates.

“Not only does he have the power and strength, but the desire to be the best,” said Helton, a former shot-putter at Mar Vista High.

Helton said the mental ingredient is key to becoming successful in a difficult sport.

“I’ve seen big, strong guys who can’t throw,” he said.

It requires patience and practice to perfect an explosive and powerful technique that must be rhythmic and fluid at the same time.

Bajet has shown a willingness to work at it.

“He was the best freshman I ever had,” Helton said. “He started off pretty good, and he’s just gotten better.”

Next for Bajet is making a run at the Otay Ranch school record and succeeding in the San Diego Section Championships.

“Once he breaks 55 feet, he’ll have the school record,” Helton said. “It’s not a matter of if, but when. He’ll do it as he gets more confident.”

After a disappointing section meet last spring in which he failed to advance beyond the qualifying round, Bajet is expecting much more from himself this time.

“My mind just wasn’t right that day,” said Bajet, who admitted his nerves got to him, along with the venue and larger crowd. “Now, I’m just focusing on the Mt. Carmel Invitational and using that as practice. But as long as we win meets, that’s what matters.”

Saturday’s invitational at Mt. Carmel is at the same site as the section championships in May.

Helping fuel Bajet’s fire is the fraternal atmosphere that exists within the throwing community, especially among his teammates.

“There’s always a competition between all of us,” said senior Kasey Hernandez, a thrower and football player. “We push each other to be better.”

Helton said the throwers are competitive to a point but also root for one another.

“It drives each individual,” Helton said. “They feed off each other.”

This is especially true for Bajet.

“He’s so willing to help out the young guys,” Helton said. “He’s not just out for himself.”

Bajet said his parents, Ed and Martha, and older brother Eddie have been instrumental in his success.

“They’ve always just kept me doing the right things in sports,” Bajet said.